Prodigal Son
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Kermit slipped into Captain Simms' office and sat, waiting for a response. He didn't have to announce his presence for her to notice him.
"Kermit, how was your vacation?" Captain Simms asked as she finished filling out another form and signing it.
"Interesting as always, though I didn't come in to talk about my vacation."
"Well that's good to hear," Captain Simms continued. "Because I need you on a very important case. It's one that you and Kincade helped Peter Caine on last year. I think you know which one that is."
"Masterson."
"That's the one. It would seem he's escaped from prison and they found Masterson Senior dead in his bedroom yesterday. He'd been dead at least twenty-four hours. His sister Sarah is also disappeared. This came over the wire. I waited until you returned into town before starting any investigation since you're going to be the primary on this. We will have to warn Peter as well. Masterson will be gunning for him. We may have to set up some kind of surveillance . . ."
"Captain, Masterson kidnapped Kelly Blaisdell."
"What? When did this happen?"
"You should ask Jordan."
"Jordan?" Captain Simms questioned. "What would she know about this?"
"You'll have to ask her that, Captain."
"Kermit, Jordan isn't going to be involved with this. I've put her on another case, but you seem to know something that I don't. I don't like being in the dark. What is going on?"
Kermit explained to Captain Simms what Peter had explained to him, and what Jordan had said over the phone when he had called in.
"She what?" Karen Simms rose up from her chair astounded at Kermit's words.
"She insisted that this was her case and that Peter was to report to her every step of the way. And if he didn't she would arrest him for interfering in police business. Peter knows Masterson. He knows what he's capable of doing. He'll kill Kelly if he gets wind of the fact that Peter is working for the police."
"And we have a leak in the department," Simms added as she crossed to the blinds of her office and stared out into the bullpen. "Ever since that O'Shay case was bungled there hasn't been one case that hasn't been effected." As Karen spoke something caught her eye that did not go unnoticed by Kermit.
"What's up Captain?"
"Take a look over toward Jordan's desk. Do you remember when we started having problems?"
"It was soon after those two officers joined us from the Academy and after Jordan was moved from vice to homicide. That was two months after Peter left the force."
"Something always seemed to happen whenever one of them talked to Detective McGuire, and it always seemed to be with her cases or any case she was related with. All this week since you've been on vacation, we've had problems, a lot more than usual."
"Captain, you do know what you're implying."
Karen Simms turned away from the window and the blinds once again fell into place. "Kermit, I need you to look at every case Jordan McGuire has been involved with ever since Peter Caine left the force. The reputation of this precinct is at stake."
"What about Masterson?"
"You are in charge of the Masterson case. Bring whomever you feel is necessary in on it, including Peter. I know what Detective Caine is capable of doing, and I know he can handle himself, even if he is a priest. You tell him to watch his back."
"Jordan isn't going to be too pleased."
"I'll handle Jordan, you make certain that Masterson is caught and put behind bars in a maximum security prison. I also trust you and Peter will get Kelly Blaisdell back alive."
"Should I let Jordan know that you want to see her?"
"Yes," replied Simms, but quickly changed her mind. "No, not yet. I don't want to tip our hand."
"I told Peter that I would have you meet with him somewhere private. He's going to need to know what's going on."
"You arrange the meeting place. Does Annie Blaisdell know about her daughter?"
"I don't think Peter has had a chance to tell her," Kermit replied. "I would have been back here sooner, but I had to fish Peter out of the lake. I was actually going to come in early, during the graveyard shift when Donny Double D drug me out to the docks. That's when I learned all of this from Peter."
"What was Peter doing in the lake?"
"Masterson set up a little trap for him, via his sister."
"Masterson's sister is in on this?" Simms sounded astounded.
"Yeah, though Peter thinks she's only doing this because she's scared of her brother."
"We've got to get her away from Masterson."
"That won't be easy. And with Jordan insisting that Peter keeps her posted every step of the way, the twelve hours that McGuire gave him is going to run out pretty fast."
"Jordan gave Peter twelve hours before she was going to tell me?" Simms questioned.
"Oh yeah."
"When was that?"
The answer Kermit gave did not set well.
"And seven hours have passed since then. Well that clinches it. It would seem Jordan deliberately set up Peter to fail. Instead of setting up a meeting with Peter, ask Chief Strenlich to come to my office. This is what we're going to do."
After Simms outlined her plan, Kermit left her office and headed to Chief Strenlich's then to his own when he completed talking with the Chief. As the Chief crossed the bullpen and entered the Captain's office, Kermit shut his door and pulled the blinds.
"Looks like Kermit is in one of his moods," Jody stated as she passed Jordan's desk and observed Griffin entering his office. "The Chief didn't look to happy either."
"The Chief always looks that way. I thought Kermit was on vacation," Jordan inquired.
"Apparently not any more. I saw him go in the Captain's office earlier and the look on his face was pretty serious. They were talking for a long time."
"I heard that Kermit and the Captain are more than just friends, if you know what I mean," Jordan winked at Jody.
"So, it's none of our business."
"So, maybe it should be. Isn't there some rule where superiors shouldn't be fraternizing with fellow officers?"
"That didn't stop you and Peter," Jody jibed back.
"That was different, Peter and I are . . . we were both Detectives."
"Whatever is going on between Kermit and the Captain is their business. I suggest you keep your mind out of the gutter McGuire and concentrate on filling out reports."
Continues with Part 17
Alisa Joaquin Copyright@2006.
This story cannot be reprinted or sold in any other form without strict permission from
the author. It is being distributed here solely for your enjoyment.
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